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Abbotsford Santa Shuffle makes it easier to believe in miracles, love

Author of the article:

Gord Kurenoff

Publishing date:

December 4, 2017 • 6 minute read

A little bit of rain didn't dampen the festive spirits of Saturday's 10th Santa Shuffle and Elf Walk at Ellwood Park in Abbotsford. More than $16,500 was raised to help the Salvation Army's many programs in the Abbotsford-Mission area.Gord Kurenoff/ Postmedia News

Abbotsford Santa Shuffle makes it easier to believe in miracles, loveBack to video

About one-third of the way into Saturday’s 5K trek around scenic Ellwood Park, and my cardio fading quickly due to a five-week break from running and some extra holiday calories, I heard a familiar trash-talking voice hot on my heels.

“How do you like getting passed by someone with one leg and no toes? Move over buddy, I’m coming through,” smiled the amazing Julie Barr.

It nearly brought tears to my eyes watching her motor up the small hill with her awesome daughters pacing on her side. This picture-perfect moment almost didn’t happen.

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The inspiring Julie Barr of Abbotsford, who almost died five years ago while training for the Santa Shuffle, brought enthusiasm and colour to the 5K run on Saturday. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

Five years ago while training for this very event, Barr fell ill to Group A strep toxic shock. Within 18 hours she was in cardiac arrest and placed into an induced coma. She lost her left leg below the knee, all her right toes and left fingertips.

Doctors originally said her chance of survival didn’t look good, but medical records never revealed her off-the-charts inner strength.

Her husband, desperately trying to find normal while everything around him wasn’t, laced up for the Santa Shuffle then took her race bib, finisher’s medal and other swag to the hospital and put it on her. That hospital picture is epic.

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As Barr said: “During my recovery in the hospital it was my goal to run a 5K race. I consider the Santa Shuffle my race now.”

One year after getting out of the hospital she did the 1K walk, then the following year she slowly ran it. Her goal this year was to complete the course in under 40 minutes — she crushed it in under 35.

The incredible, inspirational woman now works — and coaches — at Abbotsford Running Room. The word “can’t” doesn’t exist in her vocabulary. We have, for the past three years, always taken a good-luck selfie before every run. Most of our pictures are goofy, many with costumes, but her ear-to-ear smile always reminds me to be thankful for everything we have because it can all change without notice.

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This year I discovered that to be sadly true.

Wendy Olive-Jordan and Julie Barr mug with the festive Gord Kurenoff â this “pre-race good-luck selfie” thing has gone on for three years with the trio. The ladies have always finished ahead of Gord!

Shortly after Barr whipped by, another popular Abbotsford runner and coach — Barry Monkman — did some friendly trash-talking as he galloped past me with his signature smirk. Hey, not bad for a guy recovering from a serious stroke.

Monkman is a breath of fresh air on the run circuit, and offers encouragement and help to everyone. So glad he’s doing well because the sport really needs him.

“I could do a story on all these people and their incredible miracle recoveries,” said Running Room manager Wendy Jordan-Olive, as she and her wonder dog Taz — in his Santa Claus hat, of course — also passed me.

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Stroke survivor Barry Monkman, a popular running coach in Abbotsford and new fashionista, jokes with friends before Saturday’s Santa Shuffle at Ellwood Park. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

At the 3.5K mark, and figuring I’d attempt some trash-talking just to be more like Julie, Barry and Wendy, I noticed a couple exchanging friendly shots at each other.

The woman, five months pregnant and asking her husband to slow down just a tad, asked if I’d trip him or “do something drastic” to get him to slow down.

So, naturally, I started messing with the 6-5 Port Coquitlam stranger, telling the dude I was his wife’s new enforcer, that I am much stronger than I look and, you know, other stupid stuff guys say without thinking!

He just nodded and laughed, slowed down and finished the run holding his wife’s hand like it was a first date.

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Turns out the “dude” is former B.C. Lion Dean Valli, the CFL club’s No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft. The all-star offensive lineman, who spit out elite athletes twice my size before retiring in 2016, is still in good shape and likely able to tear me in half faster than you can say “Your wife is such a kidder!”

Santa Shuffle race director Marie Lashley takes a finish line photo of Dean and Amberlea Valli. Amberlea is five months pregnant and Dean is a former B.C. Lion all-star. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

Amberlea Valli, a sweet woman who has completed five half marathons since taking up running in January of 2016, figured it was a good idea to spend some “quality time” with hubby in Abbotsford, who didn’t train for the Santa Shuffle but still moved very, very well (even if he didn’t, think I’m going to call that out now? D’oh!).

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“I would have been quite happy just to walk the entire course and get my medal,” admitted Amberlea, “but I didn’t want to tell Dean that! In anything we do, we always try to have some fun with it — trash-talking, encouraging, playing games, supporting each other.

“… And it was so nice that Dean and you encouraged me and helped me get to the finish.”

Hey, did I mention I’d do anything to help Dean? And good luck with the new year baby, too. If you’re stuck for a name Trash-Talking Gord is pretty neat, unless it’s a girl.

Amberlea and Dean Valli show off their Santa Shuffle finisher’s medal in Abbotsford after a fun morning of friendly trash-talking!

Speaking of big heroes, awesome race director Marie Lashley, Salvation Army Captain Mark Dunstan and fundraising coordinator Kim Hissink, all handed out medals to Saturday’s finishers. They were thrilled with the large turnout and the growth of the popular event.

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With registrations, pledges and T-shirt sales, the Santa Shuffle raised slightly over $16,500 for the Salvation Army Centre of Hope, which does great work year round, but especially over Christmas.

As Dunstan pointed out that 2017 was extra challenging given all the B.C. wildfires and displaced people.

And some of those same people who the Salvation Army helped this year were out on the course cheering on runners and volunteering, as were youth members of the Cascade Community Church and the always cheerful Paul (Santa) Redekopp.

The good folks with TNT Fitness, who after watching my ho-ho, so-so performance, handed this blogger a one-week free membership — apparently so I’d start looking a little less like Santa and more like Dean Valli, who is now my “favourite” retired CFL player!

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Well played Abbotsford! Your kindness and charity never fail to amaze. Godspeed and Merry Christmas.

There were no shortage of smiles at the finish line on Saturday as hundreds of runners brought cheer to the Abbotsford Santa Shuffle. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

FINISHING LINES — Before putting all those Christmas sweaters, hats, neon tights and colourful wardrobes into storage, you may want to use them for the third annual Big Elf Run, which goes Saturday, Dec. 16 at Stanley Park in Vancouver. The fun afternoon event, which features 10K, 5K and 1K events, is a guaranteed good time for the entire family. For more info, and to enter, click HERE. … Pretty cool to see Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun show up at the start of Saturday’s Santa Shuffle. Given all that his city — and my former hometown — has gone through in the past few weeks, and the demands on his spare time, it was a nice touch to see him wishing all the participants well. … The 33rd annual Resolution Run takes place on Jan. 1 in Abbotsford. The 5K run/walk (and kids’ 1K) takes place at Mill Lake Park starting at 10 a.m. And the Running Room’s annual Hypothermic Half Marathon and 5K run/walk takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21 at Ellwood Park in Abbotsford, starting at 9 a.m.

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